United Way director leaving Orleans for job at RIT

Lisa Ireland is first director for merged Orleans agency

File photo by Tom Rivers – Lisa Ireland, executive director for the United Way of Orleans County, joins campaign chairman Charlie Nesbitt last Sept. 11 in unveiling the $325,000 fund-raising goal. Ireland served as the United Way executive director the past three years.

MEDINA She led two Orleans County United Way charters through a merger, helped the combined organization raise hundreds of thousands of dollars for local agencies and spearheaded a “Day of Caring” on Sept. 11.

Lisa Ireland said it has been an honor to serve as executive director of the United Way of Orleans County the past three years. But she is leaving the position next month to take a job at the Rochester Institute of Technology. She will be working in the development office, raising money for scholarships.

The United Way in Orleans used to have Eastern Orleans and Western Orleans chapters. Now they are unified with an office in Medina. The United Way set a campaign goal last September to raise $325,000 for 20 different agencies.

“It’s an amazing, amazing job,” Ireland said. “With 20 agencies you see a whole variety of different work. You’re able to touch a lot of lives.”

The United Way is seeking a new director. Candidates should send their resume and cover letter to Bill Hungerford, board chairman at wgh@takeform.net. For more information on the position, click here to go to the United Way website.

Ireland said she will be available through the end of August to help with the transition to a new director. It’s a busy time for the agency as it plans for a new fund-raising campaign and also the Day of Caring on Sept. 11. On that day volunteers go out and work with many community service projects.

“We purposely chose Sept. 11 wanting to turn a day of tragedy into something positive,” Ireland said.

Ireland grew up in Albion and lives in Brockport. She was just elected president of the Board of Education in Brockport. Prior to the United Way, she was director of the Genesee-Orleans Ministry of Concern and the development director of Hospice of Orleans.

“I’ve worked 12 years in human services in Orleans County,” she said. “It’s been such an honor to work with everyone in Orleans County.”